Machine controlled by statistical record cards



4May 29,1956 MHOMAS 2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Inventor ARTHUR THMSAttorney May 29, 1956 A. THOMAS 2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed'July 30, 1953 16Sheets-Sheet. 2

D A si NAL i K'ND INDCTA'TING STOP Fzoms END-oF-cARD-cYcLE oF sHAFT o 0?PosxrloNs BASKET DUMMY CARD CARD CARD I 2 s 4 COLN? 5l COLJ N5 Fms sropl sALANcs:DEn "l, 24'5 mob 5 L5 l D LF Fs cR 'CR FIRST 51'0p ALANcmneonN 215,5 |5Oc 5 LS C L F FS CR ,CR

ENTRY STOP neen, N24 ,50a S LS LF Fs cn ca E T o l cgeo; N23 1ro; s LsLF Fs CR CR LAsr srop. wma-Dean NMA ,50d s LS Fs D cR BELL am LASTy STOPALANcezCLEDl-f Ni' 215 .150e S LS Fs c cR BELL BELL Inventor ARTHURTl-IMAS' By Z4 Attorney May 29, 1956 A' THOMAS 2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30, 1953 16Sheets-Sheet 5 Invemor A RTHl/R Tf/MA 5 By A May 29, 1956 A. THOMAS2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLI@ BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30, 1955 16Sheets-Sheet 4 HMS /44 s rf ECSS

Inventor TH UR TFH/VAS Altorney May 29. 1956 A. THOMAS 2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30, 1955 16Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor AfiHz/R HoMA By A torney May 29, 1956 A. THOMAS2,747,669

- MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30. 1953 16Sheets-Sheet 6 /5/ /56 A fsa I al /57 2O F/ G. 8.

xuuuu ttorne y May 29, 1956 A THOMAS 2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30, 1955 16Sheets-Sheet 7 Inventor A f? THUR MMA S itorney May 29, 1956 A. THOMAS2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLI@ BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30. 1956 16Sheets-Sheet 8 Inventor ARTHUR THOMA s By A Harney May 29, 1956 A.THOMAS MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30,1953 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 Inventor ARTHUR THOMAS Attorney A. THOMAS2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS May 29, 1956 16Sheets-Sheet. 10

Filed July 30, 1953 Inventor ARTHUR THOMAS Attorney 16 Sheets-Sheet 1lInl-)enzor THMAS ARTHUR Attorney @Q .k o

May 29, 1956 A. THOMAS MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDSFiled July so. 195s May 29, 1956 A. THOMAS 2,747,669

MACHINES CCNTRCLLRC RY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed .Ju1y`50. 1953 16sheets-sheen 12 f Inventor ATHUR ,f- THOMAS A Harney May 29, 1956 A.THOMAS 2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30. 1953 16Sheets-Sheer, 15A

4I Ina lnvent'or RTHU R THMAS By f Attorney May 29 1956 i A; THOMAS2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30, 1953 16Sheets-Sheet 14 W af@ Inventor ARTHUR' THJMS Attorney Maly 29, 1956 A.THOMAS 2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLI@ BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30, 1953 16Sheets-Sheet l5 /SOa Inventor 2/0 /95 ARTI/0R TIM/Ms By A Homey May 29,1956 A. THOMAS 2,747,669

MACHINES CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Filed July 30, 1953 16Sheets-Sheet 16 Inventor AfrHI/R n10/Ms Attorney United States Patent OMACHINE CONTROLLED BY STATISTICAL RECORD CARDS Arthur Thomas,Wallington, England, assignor to Powers- Samas Accounting MachinesLimited, London, England, a British company Application July 30, 1953,Serial No. 371,249 Claims priority, application Great Britain October 2,1952 Claims. (Cl. 164-114) This invention relates to machines controlledby statistical record cards and in particular to a machine in which datarecorded on a statistical record card is transmitted column by column toa translator unit in which it is translated into code form and fromwhich it is transmitted to a recording unit whereby the coded form ofthe data is recorded on a tape.

As will be well understood in the art the tape is employed to control amachine, such as a teleprinter, which produces a printed record of thedata in decoded form.

As the tape is to be employed to control a machine as aforesaid thecoded data recorded on the tape as the result of the sensing of eachrecord card must be succeeded by a number of signals of predeterminedsignicance such signals differing according to the kind of card fromwhich data has been sensed and it is a main object of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus which, as determined by controlindicia contained by the record card, will select the order of thepredetermined signals as required by the card and condition therecording unit to eiiect recording thereof on the tape following thelast signal representative of data recorded on a record card.

According to the present invention there is provided in a machine forrecording data indicating signals on a tape under control of statisticalrecord cards, apparatus for recording on the tape signals ofpredetermined significance in succession to signals representative ofdata recorded on a record card, said apparatus comprising a sensingdevice responsive to data indications on a record card and movablestepwise column by column in relation to a record card, a tape recordingunit including tape feeding means and recording elements operable torecord signals on a tape fed by the tape feeding means, a continuouslyrotatable driving shaft coupled to the sensing device and to the taperecording unit to effect operation thereof, the tape recording unitbeing operable to record a signal on the tape during each revolution ofthe driving shaft, conditioning means to receive signals from thesensing device and to condition the recording elements for a recordingoperation in accordance with the signals so received, and a signalselector unit to initiate a group of Successive end-ofcard signals froma range of groups, said selector unit being coupled to the conditioningmeans and operable under control of the sensing device to select a groupof signals from said range thereof and condition the recording elementsto record the signals of the group on the tape.

in order that the invention may be clearly understood one embodimentthereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a record card having data and control perforationsformed therein;

Fig. 2 illustrates a portion of a tape having the data from a debitentry card recorded thereon together with signals of predeterminedsignificance which follow the data and some of which are included forcontrolling a printing machine which operates under control of the tape;

'ice

Fig. 3 illustrates a portion of a statement which has been printed undercontrol of a tape and on which appears the data from the portion of tapeshown in Fig, 2,

Fig. 4 is a table illustrating sets of signals of predeterminedsigniflcance from which selection can be made according to the kind ofrecord card from which data is sensed and recorded on a tape,

Figs. 5A and 5B together illustrate a plan of a machine for perforatinga tape in accordance with data sensed from statistical record cards,

Fig. 6 is a pictorial View of the machine as Viewed in the generaldirection of arrow Vl, Fig. 5A,

Fig. 7 is a section through the sensing device for the set-up mechanismof the machine,

Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section of the sensing device shown inFig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a view looking in the direction of arrow IX, Fig. 5A, andshows some of the driving mechanism,

Fig. 10 is a pictorial view, partly exploded, of a clutch included inthe driving mechanism for the card feeding apparatus,

Fig. 11 illustrates the tape punching unit,

Fig. l2 illustrates mechanism for feeding the tape through the tapepunching unit.

Fig. 13 is an end elevation of part of the end-of-card signal unit,

Fig. 14 is an elevation looking in direction of arrow XIV, Fig. 13,

Fig. l5 is a section on line XV-XV, Fig. 14,

Figs, 16 and 17 are pictorial views of the end-of-card signal unit,

Fig. 18 is a pictorial View of some of the sensing device.

Fig. 19 is a front elevation of the stop basket for the end-of-cardsignal unit,

Fig. 20 is a top plan of Fig. 19, some parts being omitted.

Fig. 2l is an elevation looking in direction of arrow XXI, Fig. 19,

Fig. 22 is an elevation looking in direction of arrow XXII, Fig. 19.

Fig. 23 is an elevation of mechanism for initiating oper ation of partof the end-of-card signal unit, and

Fig. 24 is a view looking in direction of arrow XXIV, Fig. 23.

The machine herein described is constructed to pro.- duce fromperforated record cards a tape T, of which a portion is illustrated inFig. 2, which can be employed to control a machine, such as ateleprinter, to produce a printed bank statement, a portion of one suchstatement being illustrated in Fig. 3.

The information contained on the portion of tape shown in Fig. 2 and inthe top line of the statement, Fig. 3, has been obtained from astatistical record card similar to that shown in Fig. 1. A statement ofthe kind illustrated is made up from a plurality of individual recordcards of which the first card is an old or first balance card, which maybe either a debit or a credit card, a succession of entry cards, whichmay be either debit or credit cards, and a new or last balance card,which also may be a debit or a credit card. The card illustrated in Fig.l is a last balance credit card as is signified in card column No. 31,which is a control column, by a control hole 1 indicating that it is anew or last balance card and a control hole 2 indicating it is a creditcard.

If the card illustrated in Fig. 1 had been an old or rst balance'card itwould also contain a control hole in the No. 5 position of column No.31, while if it was an entry credit card it would have a control holeonly in position No. 3 of column No. 31, and if it was an entry debitcard it would have a control hole only in position No. 4 of column No.3l. Further had the card been a balance debit card it would have acontrol hole in the No. 4

3 position of column No. 31 instead of in the No. 3 position of thecolumn.

It Will be understood that between successive card entries Aas lpunchedin the tape'fthere must be a number o'f signals to control the operationVof :the teleprinter -or similar frnachine which iis to be controlled bythe tape. Such fsi'gnals include .a Eline :feed signal, indicated on thechart shown -in 'Fig. 4 by Vthe letters fLF, and a carriage return`signal CR. A last balance 'card is indicated 'by a Bell signal, and asignal is provided to effect the printing on the statement of a D for 'a"C to indicate whether a balance -amount is debit orcredit. A spacesignal fis also required to obtain, as indicated at 3, `lig. 3, a spacebctween the -am'ount and the D or C. With cards of the kind shown inFig. -1 the first information sensed therefrom is valways a ydate inf'gures so that the lirst data punched on the tape froinany card'must bevpreceded by a figure shift signal. To ensure that this precedent gureshift signal is punched on the tape the end of card signals, as 'shownin Fig. 4, includes for-all cards a space signal S 'followed by alettershift signal LS-and this is succeeded 'by a ligure shift signal FS. Forpurposes of controlling=thefteleprinter a carriage return signal or abell signal is usually punched twice in the tape as shown in Figs. 2 and4.

As rwill hereinafter be described the set end-of-card signals asindicated in Fig. 4 are punched into the tape T 'primarily yundervcontrol of card column No. 31, the sets of signal determining devicescomprising cam pieces supported by a rotatable drum and selection of aset of signals being determined by a stop set up under control of atesting device while'it is ltesting set-up members representative ofdata contained inthe No. 31 column of a card.

A card-to-tape punching machinehaving 'apparatus according to theVpresent invention incorporated therein is illustrated diagrammaticallyin Figs. 5A and 5B. Some of Lthe mechanisms incorporated -in the machineare described in the specifications of co-pending United Statesapplications Serial Nos. 362,104 and 354,100 and accordingly only thoseparts of the machine necessary to the understanding of the presentinvention will be -described in detail herein.

Referring to AFigs. SA-and 5B, the machine comprises a card sensing unitCS, atranslator unitTU, a tape-punchingunit TP, and an'end of card:signal selector unit ECSS, all of which are driven by any suitablemeans such as an'electric motor not shown.

`.Record Acards are contained in a magazine 4, Figs. 5A and '6, fromwhich they are fed one Vat a time,'in known vmanner to a verticallyreciprocable card chamber, not

shown, which bymeans'forming no part of the lpresent invention raisesthe card in the chamber'into co-operation with a set-up mechanism Vofknown construction comprising columns of set-up members 5, Fig. 6, eachcolumn, as is customary, comprising a'set-up'member for eachdataindicating position in a vertical column 'of'a'record card. Thus aseach vertical column of a 'card has twelve data indicating positions,see Fig. -l, each column 4of set-up members comprises twelve set-upmembers.

The set-up members 5 of each column are displaceable vertically relativeone to the other so that when a card is raised into co-operationtherewith those set-up members which are not aligned withdata-indicating perforations in the card are raised by'the card.Accordingly, the'setup members which have not been raised 'represent thedata recorded in the card bythe perforations formed therein. The timingof the card chamber 'operating mechanism is such that the chamberretains a'cardin 'raised position while a sensing device senses theset-up members column by column and the 'chamber is not lowered untilthe sensing operation is completed.

The machine is driven bya continuously rotating shaft 6, Figs. 5A and 6,and effects continuous rotation 'of a gear wheel 7 which through apinion`8 and gear Wheel 9 effects continuous rotation of a driving shaft10 which through a 1.1 ratio gearing 11, Fig. 5B, drives a shaft 12 fromwhich the punch unit TP is operated to effect a punching operation onthe tape T once during each revolution, hereinafter referred to asacycle, of the shaft 10. The tape punching unit TP and the mode ofoperation thereof is as described in the specification of the aforesaidco-pending application 'Serial No. 362,104. Movement of thesensing-device is controlled by the shaft 10 andthe sensing device isconstructed Vas described in the specification of the aforesaidco-pendingapplication Serial No. 354,100, certain parts of the sensingdevice will, however be described below as this device also 'controlsthe end-of-card signal selector unit.

The sensing device comprises a first column 13, Figs. 7 and 8, ofsensing elements and a second column 14 of sensing elements mounted onein advance of the other in a carriage which includes apair'of end frames.15, the carriage being lmovable stepwise along a rack 16, Fig. 6, underlcontrol of lescapement mechanism as described in the specification ofthe aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 354,100.

Each-column 13, 14 comprises for each data-indicating position in avertical column of a card sensing vpin 17, Fig. 7, a lhatchct pin 18,andan actuator 19. The first column 13 also includes an initiator deviceto initiate operation lof a part of the end-of-card signal selector unitin the manner described below, the initiator device com- .prising vathirteenth sensing pin 17a, Fig. 18, a hatchet pin 20, an `actuator 2'1,and a Bowden wire 22, Fig. 8, connection between the actuator 21 andwire 22 being effected by a llatc'hing lever 23 which, as described inthc specification of the vaforesaid co-pending application Serial No.362,104 controls the carriage escapement 'mechanism The sensing pins :17are supported by a verticallyreciprocable carrier comprising a'bar 24vertically rcciprocable -intthe'cnd frames 15 and plates 25, 26 movablewith the bar 24. The pins 17 yare urged downwards, as viewed in Fig. 7bysprings Z7. The bar 24 is supported by arms 28 pivoted onfa spindle A25"mounted in the end vframes 15 andlto onefend-of'the bar/24 is secured ablock 30, Fig. 8, having-ahorizontal slot in which is located the tongueportionof altongued plate 31, carried by a shaft 32 rockabletin"frame-plates l33, Figs. 5A and 9, which'support lthe sensing mechanismfor sensing the set-up members 5.

Reciprocation -of the 'bar 24 is effected from shaft 10 =io which issecured a clutch dog 34, Fig. 9, with which feo-operates a-clutch pawlSS-Carried'by a clutch plate 36 freely mounted on the shaft 10. Securedto the-clutch vplate`36 foi-'movement therewith is an eccentric 37 pro--vided withfan ccccntricstrap 33 the end of which is pivotcd'on a stud39 carried by a lever '40 pivotcd on a fixed shaft'41. The lever 40 isconnected at 42 to a link 43 which is also connected Ito-an arm42E-secured to the shaft 32. Thus whenthc clutch 34, A35, 36 isoperative the link -43 Vrocks the arm 44 and shaft 32 thereby causing'the bar 24 to-be reciprocated vertically to effect sensing of theset-up members 5. The block 30 is slidable lengthwise of'the tonguedplate 31 as the carriage is moved along the rack 16 and the shaft `10 isrotated at a speed such that during each cycle thereof, unless operationof the carriage is interrupted in the manner described in thcspecification of co-pending application Serial No. 354,100, the columns13, 1'4 of sensing elements sense the columns of'set-upmembers insuccession, the second column 14 sensing a column of set-up members inthe sensing cycle next following the cycle during which it was sensed bythe first column 13 of sensing elements.

The card feeding mechanism and thc card chamber operatingmcchanism isdriven by a shaft '45, Figs. 5A, 9,' 10, 23 and 24, which is coupledtothe gear wheel 7 by a clutch deviceFig. 10. The'clutch devicecomprises a clutch dog 46'secured by screws 47 to the boss 'of the gearwheel 7, a disc 48 secured to the shaft 45 and a pawl 49 pivoted at 50on the disc 48.l The pawl 49 is urged towards the dog 46 by a spring 51and is tripped out of the dog by a trip lever 52 secured to a tripspindle 53. An arm 54 is also secured to the trip spindle 53 and isrockable by a bell-crank 55 pivoted at 56 on a fixed bracket 57 forrocking movement by a Bowden wire 58; lThe Bowden wire 58 is operated bya plate 59, Fig. 9, Ipivoted freely on the rocking shaft 32.

As has been mentioned above, the card feeding mechanism and the cardchamber operating mechanism is inoperative during the sensing of theset-up members and during this period the shaft 45 is stationary. When,howover, the device reaches the end of its sensing path the carriage isengaged by a trip member 60, Fig. 9, secured to a rocking shaft 61supported in the frames 33, The shaft 61 is rocked by the shaft 32through a plate 62 secured to shaft 32, a connecting piece 63 pivoted at64 to the plate 62, and an arm 65 secured to shaft 61. Connectionbetween piece 63 and arm 65 is by a slot 66 in `arm 65 and a pin 67carried by piece 63. The connecting piece 63 is sprung towards the plate59 by a spring 68. During sensing operations the shaft 61 and member 60are rocked in unison with shaft 32 but when the member 60 engages thecarriage, signifying that the carriage has reached the end of itsforward movement, the connecting piece 63 pivots about pin 67, clockwiseas viewed in Fig. 9, so that an abutment 69 on the piece 63 engages theplate 59 thereby moving counter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 9, andeecting operation of the Bowden wire 5S which rocks bell-crank 55 thus,through arm 54, spindle 53, and trip lever 52 releasing the pawl 49 forcooperation with dog 46 to effect one revolution of shaft 45. As thepulse imparted by wire 58 is of short duration the lever 52 is restoredto its tripping position before the pawl 49 again reaches the positionshown'in Fig. 10.

The carriage is returned to its starting position, by known meansforming no part of the present invention, immediately after it has beenengaged by the member 60 and it takes four cycles of the shaft to returnthe carriage to its starting position. Accordingly, the tongued plate 31must be rendered inactive during the return movement of the carriage andthis is effected by an arm 70, Fig. 9, secured to shaft 45 and carryinga roller 71 to engage a bell-crank 72 pivoted at 73 to a frame 33a andurged by a spring 74 towards the clutch pawl 35. While shaft 45 isstationary roller 71 engages the bell-crank 72 and holds it out of thepath of pawl 35. On rotation of shaft 4S, however, roller 71 disengagesbell-crank 72 so that the latter isl sprung into the path of pawl andtrips the pawl out of engagement with clutch dog 34 thereby interruptingoperation of shaft 32 although shaft 10 continues to rotate.

The tape recording unit formed by punch unit TP is constructed andoperates as described in the specification of co-pending applicationSerial No. 362,104 and accordingly will be described herein onlyin-so-far as is necessary to the understanding of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 11, 12, and 13, the punch unit is driven by the shaft12 and comprises a pin wheel 75, Fig. 11, secured to a shaft 76, theshaft 76 being rotated by a ratchet wheel 77, Fig. 12, actuated by apawl 78 on .a pawl-carrying arm 79 pivoted about the axis of shaft 76and operated by a link 80 mounted on an eccentric 81 secured to shaft12. Recording on the tape is effected by recording elements consistingof rows of punches S2, Fig. 11, arranged to co-operate with a die-plate83 and .actuated by a punch-operating member 84 slidable in guides 85under control of a Geneva gear device 86 driven vby shaft 12, For thepurposes of the present invention V.only the lower row of punches 82need be considered and 4selection of these punches is effected by theinterpolation of vertical bars 87 between the ends of the punches of thelower row and the punch-operating member 84. Consditioning of bars 87 isby conditioning means formed by -the translator unit TU which comprisesslotted code bars 88, rocking bars 89 and members 90 carried by thebars89 to effect actuation of toothed bars 91, Fig. 13, which throughconditioning plates 92 rock rods 93 to which are secured arms 94, Fig.11, to actuate the bars 87. The conditioning plates 92 extend onopposite sides of the rods 93 and the actuation thereof by the toothedbars 91 results, as described in the specification of co-pendingapplication Serial No. 362,104, from the sensing operations performed bythe second column 14 of sensing elements.

The conditioning plates 92 are, however, also operated by theend-of-card signal selector unit ECSS so as to effect punching in thetape of signals of predetermined signifcance -to succeed the signalspunched in the tape as the result of the testing operations of thesecond column 14 of sensing elements.

The end-of-card signal selector unit is illustrated more particularly inFigs. 13 to 21 although initiation of operation thereof is, as statedabove, controlled by the sensing of card column No. 31 by the sensingelements of the aforesaid first column 13 and in general, the signalselector unit may be said to comprise a drum unit DU and a stop basketSB.

The drum unit comprises a base plate 95, Figs. 13, 14, 16 and 17,secured to the base 96 of the translator unit. Two side frames 97, 98are fixed to the base 96 and support bearing blocks 99, 100 carrying twoshafts 101, 102 of which the shaft 101 is the main or drum shaft of theunit. Shaft 101 is driven from the continuously rotating shaft 12 bysprockets 103, 104, chain 10S, intermediate gear 106 and gear 107, Figs.5B, 13 and 14.

Slidably mounted on the shaft 101 is a cam-carrying drum 108 to which issecured a member 109 having a peripheral groove 110, Fig. 14. Theopposite end of the drum 108 is provided with two tongues 111 slidablefreely in slots formed in the flange 112 of a member 113 freely mountedon the drum shaft 101. Secured to the drum shaft 101 is a firstone-revolution clutch comprising a clutch dog 114 with which co-operatesa clutch pawl 11S pivotally mounted on a flange 116 integral with member113. Also secured to drum shaft 101 is a second onerevolution clutchcomprising a clutch dog 117 with which co-operates a clutch pawl 118pivotally mounted on a flange 119 formed on a gear 120 which is integralwith a cam 121 freely mounted on the drum shaft 101. The member 113, andthe gear and cam 121 are normally stationary on the driven drum shaft101 and are retained in the stationary position by detent arms 122, 123urged respectively by springs into engagement with studs 124, 125 Figs.14 and 17 on member 113 and gear 120. The clutch pawls 115, 118 arerespectively retained in the latched inoperative positions thereof bypivoted latches 126, 127 urged to the latching positions thereof bysprings 12S, 129 and respectively movable from their latching positions,as will be described below, by a Bowden wire 130 and by the wire 22referred` to above.

The cam-carrying drum 108 is provided with four equispaced slotsextending lengthwise of the drum to receive cam pieces 131, Figs. 14 and15, which are retained in the predetermined positions therefor byretaining plates 132 provided with slots 133, Fig. 14, to locate the campieces in said predetermined positions.

The cam pieces 131, according to the positions thereof are, after axialmovement of the drum, arranged to cooperate with selected ones of sixrollers 134 to control the lengthwise movement of six code bars 135guided for lengthwise movement by slotted bars 136, 137 secured to theside frames 97, 98. The rollers 134 are carried by levers 138 pivotallymounted in pivot blocks 139 secured to the bar 137 and each lever 138carries a stud 140, Fig. 13, located in a slot in the lower end of thecode bar 135 appropriated thereto and arranged, on raising of the roller134, to lower the code bar so that teeth 141 formed thereon engageappropriate ones of the conditioning plates 92 to effect rocking of rockrods 93 i7 thereby to condition the Ilower -rowfo'fpunches 82byinterposing bars :'87 between the ends thereof and thelpunchoperating'member r8'4 as mentioned above. Theteeth 1211 on 'eachEbar 135 are :cut according yto the predetermined signal 'to be punchedresultant -on the operation 'of the bar A by its roller '134.

In the yapparatus herein described the cam-carrying drum 108 isarranged, Yby means of ithe stop basket -to be described lbelow, to bearrested -in any one of 'tive 'predetermined positions and selection isto be made from -s'i-x predetermined end-of-card signals selected byoperation of the lcode bars 155. Accordingly, in Athe apparatusbeing-describedthe cam-carrying drum through the slotted retainingplates i132, has Aprovision for four times thirty cam pieces 131.

Axial movement of the camcarrying ldrum 11.06 is 'effeeted by cam 121whichengages a follower roller 142 Figs. llland v17,supportedbyfan-arm143 pivotaily mounted on -a :pillar 1214 lsecured Ato the ibase plate'95. The arm 143 -is connected lby a link .145 with .a Vfurther arm 146pivotally mounted on a pillar .147 valso secured to the base plate 95,the arm 146 carrying a stud dZtSengaging in the peripheral groove 110 onthe 'member 19.9 which, as statedabove, yis securedltolthe drum 108.lhus as the arms 11213, 146 and 2link 145 vare .operated by the cam 121the stud 148causes.axialmovement'of theidrum 10S along the shaft 101.

To the underside of the link 1115 .is secured :an abutment `formed as astop block 1219,1Figs. 14 and 16, 'to

co-operate with selected .ones-of tive stops 150er, 150]),

156C, 150:1, and '150e .in the stop basket SB, the main function of`which is to .receive control signals during the testing of set-up.members 5 :representative oficardcolu'mn No. 31, to 'translate `thesignals and to .cause one of the tive stops, as indicated in Fig. 4,tobe raised and determine the operating position :of the .drum .108.relative to the code bars i135.

Thefcontrol signals are receivedby thestop basket from Bowden wires.151, Fig. 19, these wires being :actuated vduring sensing of the setup.members .5 representative ot card column `JN0. 31 by theirst column13.01 sensing elements. The yactuators =19 of said rst column cooperatewith interponents 152, 'Figs. 7 and 8, of which the four appropriated tothe data-indicating positions, Nos. 2, 3, 4 Aor 5 for a card column, asshown 1in Fig. l, are provided `with opstanding 'extensions 115'3 which,.on actuation .of the inte1'ponents,iengage and operate :push members154 each hingedly connected to :a .push trod .155, Fig. 7. The 'pushrods 155, of which .there are .'four,

are each .connected to .one .of .the Bowden Awires '151 and thepushinembers '154are engaged by a U-shaped bracket '156 pivoted toablock 11557 secured to the .top .of thc carriage for movement therewith.Normally, the push members .154 are retained in the .position shown .inFigs.

7 `and 8 in which `position 'they :cannot 'be engaged .by

the extensions 153 should theiinteiponents of'whieh they form part be.operated. The-bracket 156and push members i154 are .retained in the.position `shown in Figs. 7 and 1'8 by an abutment 15S, IFig. .8,extending laterally from the bracket 156 and riding lon the Avtop of 'axed bar 159 extending lengthwiseof the path-of lthecarriage. When,however, thecarriage reachestheipositionat which the lrst .column 13 ofsensing elements tests 'the 'set-up members5 representativeaof cardcolumn No. 31 -in which column, as described -above with reference tofFig. -'1,

control the latching devices 'for the carriage fescapement .8 mechanismas :described -in \the specification of co-pending I.application SerialNo. 354,100.

The impulses imparted by 'the `Bowden .wires .151 are received tby code`bars 1.63, Figs. 19 to 22, supported for lengthwise sliding .movementin side plates .164, 165. Eachcode bar )1.63 on receiptof an impulsefrom its wire .1"51fis moved lengthwise to the .right as viewed vin`1`ig. 19 to a position at which :it is .latched by a shutter 166 which,as .can be seen ifrom Fig. 20, lisxed to a rockable latch spindle .167urged 'to latching .position by a spring 7:68. The shutter is ycommon.to all 'four code bars 163 and 'has :an upturned lip 1169 and isdepressed by a code bar imoving to its `operative position, 'the .lip169 being engaged behind .a latching :tooth on the code `bar zitter thetooth has moved over the lip. Gn latching of the `code bars in 'theoperated .positions thereof the inner `rires o the 'Bowdens r151 returnto the normal positions thereof.

The shutter 166 is positively operated `to release code hars 163 whichare 'retained -in active position thereby and yrelease is effected by anarm .1.71, Pig. 1.9, secured to the :latching spindle A167 and engagedby an arm '172 secured by a -boss to an arm 1721fpivotally mounted on a:iXed spindle 173. The arm 174 carries a roller 175 engaging a cam 176on Vthe shaft 102. The shaft 102 is rotated -by a .gear wheel 177, Fig.17, secured vthereto and zmeshing 'with the gear 1.20 so that operationof shaft 1102 Ais effected in timed `relation with the axial Vmovement'of drum 108.

The code bar F163 in the inactive position thereof, vas shown vin Fig.20, is located by the side plate 164 being .engaged :by a Vstop formedin the code bar and, on rcylease by the shutter, the code bars vareurged towards thetplate 164 bypins .178 and springs 179.

The code bars, as is-customary in the art, are slotted -to co-operate`with tive test bars 130 which are supported for vertical -slidingmovement in plates 181, 182 being lsprung upwards by pins 183 andsprings 184. The test .bars each have `projections .185, Fig. 21, topass 'through the slotsinthecode bars 163 and in their normal., orinactive positions, as shown in the drawings, they are under control ofa restoring member 186, Figs. 19 and .22, common .to all tive vtestbars, the restoring member engaging steps 187, Fig. 22, formed in thetest bars. .ln their inactive positions, as can be seen from Fig. 21,the test bars are so disposed that the code bars 163 are locatedcentrally in the Y,gaps formed between the projecltions 185fon thetestbars.

Atterlatching of operated code bars 163 the restoring its pin 183 andspring 184. When this occurs one of the ytest bars 180 will find a -laneformed by aligned slots in the-code bars 163 and so will rise to .permitthe stop 150 co-operating therewith to be raised and interposed in theipath .of the stop block 149. The positive operation of the .member 186is etected by a cam 183 on shaft .102, the cam izo-.operating with aroller 189 carried by an arm 190 rockable about a stud 191, Fig. 19. Thearm 190 has a further arm 192 .integral therewith and carrying a pin193, Fig. v.22, .which is located in a slot 194 in .a bracket 195secured to the member 136. Thus on vrocking-of thearms 190, 192 bythecam 188 the member f186is rocked .about the axis of its supportingspindle 196 and is raised, as Yviewed -in Fig. 22, to permit length-Above the test bars 180 and aligned therewith are the stops Y150, thestops being supported .for lengthwise slid- .ing movement by plates19.7, 198 and connected with the test bars -180 by springs 4199. Ashutter latch 200, .common toall :of the tive stops 150, -is supportedby a Vrocking spindle 201'mounted in plates 202 and vis .urged towards'the'stops 150fbya spring 203, Fig. 19. .Forfthe .purpose :of .releasing'a vstop 3150 lwhich has been latched

